GARDEN WEDDING PARTY

To celebrate Loligi Aiono's marriage to Letisiola, an afternoon garden wedding party was held on the 16th January 2010. Despite predicted showers likely to turn into heavy rain, the sky remained blue, the sun shone and the air was stifling hot. The garden party was a belated reception that followed a small wedding ceremony on 22nd October 2009 where 12 or so family members assembled to witness the official exchange of their marriage vows at the Otahuhu Salvation Army. Click on images to enlarge.
The official wedding reception was postponed to the 16th January 2010 for a garden wedding party to be held in the middle of summer. The occasion began with Ben Carter (an old school friend of Loligi's from St Kentigerns and close family friend) blowing the bagpipes for the couple as they made their way to the garden reception in recognition of the Scottish heritage also present.
Several Tongan items were performed by Loligi and Letisiola's family. And a number of speeches gave rise to loud applause from the guests. The garden ceremony began at 1:00pm and formalities were over by 5:00pm. After that it was 'mix n mingle' time. Some guests stayed on to dance the Scottish Highland fling as Ben blew the bagpipes and others socialised until the early hours of the morning.